As many of you know, we Orthodox frequently use a komboschoini (“kom-bo-SKEE-nee”), or “prayer-rope,” for aid in developing interior prayer of the heart. All prayer which is pleasing to God ascends from a heart which is set upon Him. The use of aids in prayer, such as movements of the body, books, ropes, etc., all provide a ladder upon which we can ascend to heavenly contemplation (theoria). The komboschoini is a woolen rope, consisting of knots of various sizes: as small as 33 (sometimes even smaller) and as large as 300. At each knot, fingered by the left hand, one says the Prayer of Jesus, “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!” This is repeated once for each knot. This is the basic use of the rope. There is a great volume of spiritual literature about this holy prayer and its practice. But the prayer-rope can be used for other prayers as well, as you will see, below.

There are many kinds of prayer: petition, compunction, confession, worship, contemplation, intercession. It is this last one which is the subject of this post.

Last May, I received from John Tsapos’ list a 33-knot intercession on the komboschoini. It was sent out in Greek. Below is my translation. Perhaps you will find it helpful for your own daily intercessions!

When you begin, take the rope in your left hand, with your forefinger and thumb on the cross of the komboschoini and say, while making the Sign of the Cross with your right hand, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” If you like you can say the trisagion (“Holy God…”) and the other customary prayers through the Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father…”). Then, moving to the first knot on the komboschoini, say the first petition given below, and on each knot thereafter, each succeeding petition. After all 33 are complete, say “Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Amen.”

Be mindful, O Lord, for the peace of the world!

O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on our Church and our Orthodoxy.

O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on our Bishop and his clergy.

O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on all Orthodox clergy and laity in every land.

O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on our spiritual father and his community.

O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on our country and on our armed forces.

O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on the civil authorities.

O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on those who hate us, on those who love us, and those who pray for us.

You can find introductory material about me and this website by scrolling below, in this column.

NEW! English-language Typikon of the Holy Services of the Orthodox-Catholic and Apostolic Church, according to the tradition of the Great Church of Christ (Constantinopolitan usage).

I am now placing the entire translation and recompilation project of the Systema Typikou, the exhaustive and detailed Typikon of the Holy Services of the Holy OrthodoxChurch, published by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. Since this work has not yet received hierarchical blessing for use in the churches, we are under an obligation to limit access to its contents. Liturgists, scholars, and others with credentials from a hierarch are usually welcome to view our work, after screening.

If you wish to gain security access, please contact me by placing a comment on this post.

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OTHER CONTENT ON THIS SITE: Orthodox liturgics, ecclesiastical and biblical Greek, or just more information about Fr Patrick–all are treated on this site with new posts, periodically added. Just click on the subject area in the column you see to your left. For example, click on “Commentary on Divine Liturgy for Laity” to get ONLY those posts. If you want to contact about anything, leave a comment after this post with your email. Christ is risen!

I am a presbyter (priest) under His Grace, Bishop JOSEPH, the bishop in charge of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. This jurisdiction is an province of the Patriarchate of Antioch, one of the family of churches which make ... Continue reading →